DC Comics Sponsors The Graphic Novel Block

New York, NY - DC Comics is the sponsor of the first-ever graphic novel block at the nation> '> s premier non-profit literary festival, New York Is Book Country, announced Paul Levitz, DC Comics' President & Publisher. This year's 25th anniversary festival will feature a Neil Gaiman special event and a limited edition New York Is Book Country poster illustrated by Jim Lee & Scott Williams as well as all-day signings and giveaways at the DC Comics and MAD Magazine booths.

"The American comic book was born in New York, so it's only appropriate for comics and graphic novels to become a major part of New York Is Book Country, "said Levitz." We're pleased to participate, and invite New Yorkers to explore the expanding creative world of comics."

New York Is Book Country is featuring a ticketed special event for Neil Gaiman and his new graphic novel THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS on Saturday, September 20 at 11 AM. Gaiman will speak in depth about his creative process and the first SANDMAN graphic novel in seven years. Gaiman will also kick off the graphic novel platform at Sunday's street fair with a one-hour signing at 11:30 AM on the Graphic Novel Block platform.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary, New York Is Book Country is featuring two posters for the first time ever. Along with Maurice Sendak, Jim Lee and Scott Williams donated their artistic efforts to create a limited-edition poster available only at the Street Fair at NYC merchandise booths and New York Public Library booths. All proceeds from poster sales benefit the New York Public Library, The Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens Borough Public Library. Lee will sign the poster and his graphic novel BATMAN: HUSH at the street fair on Sunday, September 21 from 2:15-3:45 PM on the Graphic Novel Block platform.

At Sunday's street fair, the Graphic Novel block is located on Fifth Ave at 49th Street; DC Comics is booth #9 and MAD Magazine is booth #8. On the same block, the Borders Books booth will host a 11:00 AM-12:00 PM signing by Kyle Baker for UNDERCOVER GENIE and a 1:00-2:00 PM signing by Doug Moench for BATMAN: HONG KONG. The DC Comics booth will feature giveaways and graphic novels from DC Comics, Vertigo and WildStorm.

MAD Magazine will have its own booth with a 1:30-2:30 PM signing by Spy. Vs. Spy cartoonist Peter Kuper and a 2:30-3:30 PM signing by MAD cartoonist Drew Friedman as well other all-day signings by the Usual Gang of Idiots.

New York Is Book Country (NYIBC) is a non-profit organization that promotes the joy of reading and writing, and celebrates books by bringing together schools, authors, libraries, cultural organizations, publishers and bookstores in a network of citywide events and programs. More information about the festival can be found at www.nyisbookcountry.org.

DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super-heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics' Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

DC Comics & MAD Magazine New York Is Book Country Schedule:

Saturday, September 20, 2003
11:00 AM 12:00 PM
Equitable Center 787 7th Ave New York, NY 10019
Neil Gaiman discusses THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS
Neil Gaiman won the Hugo Award for his New York Times bestselling novel American Gods, and his bestselling children's book Coraline has been praised all over the world. But before Neil became a blockbuster prose novelist, he was best known as the creator and author of the DC Comics revolutionary comic book series THE SANDMAN.

Critically acclaimed and award-winning, Neil's SANDMAN set new standards for comics as literature; the ten volume Sandman library is recognized as one of the medium's greatest achievements. Join Neil this September as he discusses the return to the Sandman with the graphic novel THE SANDMAN ENDLESS NIGHTS, a collection of seven dark and beautiful stories illustrated by top artists from around the world. Presentation will be followed by a book signing.